Vince Carter likely out Thursday against Heat

Vince Carter, whose ball-stopping presence was not missed by Orlando in the Magic’s win against the Heat last month, is unlikely to make his Suns debut Thursday night because of swelling in his knee, that could require surgery and keep him out several weeks.

If he’s out, that means the Heat will renew acquaintances with just two recent Magic rotation players, Marcin Gortat and Mickael Pietrus. Pietrus is a physical defender who has given Dwyane Wade problems at times.

As always, the key to throttling Phoenix is to control Steve Nash, who was not at full strength during the teams’ earlier meeting. With Gortat on board, Phoenix might not go as small, which means the Heat will use their centers more than they did in Miami.